Sending money across borders should feel simple, especially when your family is waiting on the other side. But international money transfers can sometimes take longer than expected, leaving both sender and recipient anxious and uncertain. Understanding why delays happen—and what you can do about them—puts you back in control of your finances and your peace of mind.
This guide walks you through how international money transfers work, why they sometimes get stuck, and how to make sure your next transfer goes as smoothly as possible. Whether you are sending money to family in Africa or elsewhere in the world, the same fundamental processes are at play.
How does the international money transfer process work?
An international money transfer moves funds from a sender in one country to a recipient in another by passing through a network of financial institutions and payment systems. Your money does not physically travel. Instead, a series of instructions is sent between banks and payment processors, each confirming that funds should be credited or debited along the chain.
Most transfers rely on one of a few core systems. Bank-to-bank transfers typically use the SWIFT network, a global messaging system that connects thousands of financial institutions. Specialist money transfer operators use their own proprietary networks or partnerships with local payout agents. Mobile money services connect directly to mobile wallets, which is increasingly common across Africa.
The journey often involves more than two parties. Your sending bank communicates with one or more correspondent banks, which act as intermediaries before the funds reach the recipient’s local bank or payout point. Each stop along this chain adds a layer of processing time, and any one of those layers can introduce a delay.
What are the most common reasons a transfer is stuck?
A delayed international money transfer is most commonly caused by compliance checks, incorrect recipient details, bank processing times, or currency conversion requirements. Most delays are temporary and resolve within a few business days once the underlying issue is identified.
Here are the most frequent causes to be aware of:
- Anti-money laundering (AML) and compliance checks: Financial institutions are legally required to screen transactions. Larger amounts or unusual sending patterns can trigger manual reviews that pause a transfer until the review is complete.
- Incorrect recipient information: A wrong account number, misspelled name, or missing bank code can cause a transfer to fail or sit in a holding state until corrected.
- Correspondent bank delays: When a transfer passes through multiple intermediary banks, each institution applies its own processing schedule. Weekends and public holidays in any country along the chain can extend the timeline significantly.
- Currency conversion: Converting between less commonly traded currency pairs can take longer because the exchange requires more steps or there are fewer available liquidity providers.
- Recipient bank processing times: Some banks in receiving countries process incoming international transfers in batches, meaning funds may arrive at the bank but not appear in the recipient’s account until the next processing cycle.
- Document requests: If your transfer is flagged for additional verification, the provider may request proof of identity or the purpose of the transfer before releasing the funds.
Understanding which of these factors applies to your situation helps you ask the right questions when you follow up with your transfer provider.
How long should an international money transfer take?
International money transfers typically take between a few minutes and five business days to complete, depending on the service used, the destination country, and the payment method. Specialist money transfer operators are generally faster than traditional bank transfers.
The timeline varies considerably based on several factors. Transfers sent through well-developed mobile money networks—such as those found in Kenya, Ghana, or Nigeria—often arrive within minutes because the payout infrastructure is highly mature. Transfers to regions with less established banking infrastructure, or those routed through multiple correspondent banks, can take two to five business days.
Bank-to-bank international transfers are usually the slowest option, sometimes taking three to five business days even for routine transactions. Specialist transfer services that have direct partnerships with local payout networks tend to be significantly faster because they reduce the number of intermediaries involved. Sending on a Friday afternoon or before a public holiday in either the sending or receiving country will almost always add extra days to the timeline.
What can you do when a money transfer is delayed?
When a transfer is delayed, the first step is to check your confirmation details, verify the recipient information you provided, and contact your transfer provider directly with your transaction reference number. Most delays can be resolved quickly once the cause is identified.
Follow these steps to resolve a delayed transfer effectively:
- Check your confirmation email or app notification to confirm the transfer was successfully submitted and note the transaction reference number.
- Verify the recipient details you entered, including the account number, bank code, and the recipient’s full name as it appears on their account.
- Contact your transfer provider’s customer support with your reference number and ask for a status update. A good provider will be able to tell you exactly where in the process your transfer is.
- Ask whether a compliance review is holding the transfer and whether any documentation is needed from you to release it.
- Check for public holidays in both the sending and receiving countries that may be affecting processing times.
- If the transfer has been held for more than five business days without explanation, ask your provider to initiate a trace or recall procedure.
Patience combined with proactive communication is the most effective approach. Most transfers that appear stuck are simply waiting for a routine process to complete.
Which money transfer service is fastest for sending to Africa?
Specialist digital money transfer operators that have direct payout partnerships in African countries are generally the fastest option for sending money to Africa. They bypass the correspondent banking chain and deliver funds directly to mobile wallets, bank accounts, or cash pickup points in the recipient’s country.
When comparing services, look beyond the headline transfer speed and consider the full picture. Exchange rates, fees, and the available payout methods in the specific country you are sending to all affect the overall value and speed of the transfer. A service that advertises instant transfers may offer a less favorable exchange rate that costs your family more in the end.
For communities sending money to countries like Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, or Niger, it is worth choosing a provider that has specific experience with those corridors. Familiarity with local banking infrastructure, mobile money networks, and regulatory requirements in those countries translates directly into faster, more reliable transfers. Multilingual support is also an important factor, particularly if you prefer to manage your finances in your home language rather than in English or Dutch.
How FroggyTalk helps with international money transfers
We built FroggyTalk because we know what it means to stay connected across borders, and that connection is about more than just calling home. Our International Money Transfer Service is designed with the same values that drive everything we do: transparency, affordability, and making sure you feel heard, seen, and supported.
Here is what makes our service different:
- Transparent fees with no hidden charges, so you always know exactly what your family will receive
- Competitive exchange rates for key African corridors, including Nigeria, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Sudan, and Niger
- Real-time transaction tracking so you are never left wondering where your money is
- Multilingual support in Tigrinya, Arabic, Hausa, Amharic, French, and more, and the entire app can be translated into your local language
- A single platform where you can manage both your international calls and your money transfers, all in one trusted place
You can also use our app to handle bill payments for contacts back home, making it easier to support your family from wherever you are in Europe. Ready to send money with confidence? Get in touch with our team if you have any questions. We are here to help.